It's 3 weeks before the due date, and we may not have the time to look back until after she's here. And frankly, actually seeing her is going to color our glasses rosy, so we think it's a good opportunity to assess how we got through the last few months, and perhaps answer a few of the most popular questions once and for all.
- Are you excited? Yes. Of course we are. This is the biggest thing that has ever happened to us, and we can hardly stand to even go into the nursery because the fact that there's going to be a baby in it is overwhelming. SO. EXCITED. And yes, Rob is too.
- What are you going to name her?! We covered this one early on. Next question.
- How much time are you going to take off? I'll be off from Christmas Eve until March 23. Three full months, and I'm so lucky to be able to do that! Rob will take off a week, and then more time as we decide he needs to.
- Daycare? How can you put your child in daycare? Well, we don't have a lot of choice here. We both work full time, and we need to continue doing that so we can keep things like a house and cars and food and premium cable. And unless one of us hits Megabucks, that's not going to change.
- When are you going to get a bigger house? Probably not for 3-4 years. We figure we have enough going on right now, and we know where everything is in our current house. It's not a palace, but it's big enough for what we're doing for a while.
- You're really not telling people her name? Nope.
- Are you going to vaccinate her? Of course. We're big believers in not having to deal with polio and mumps. We also appreciate when other people vaccinate their own kids.
- When are you going to have a second baby? Probably sometime between January 2009 and the year 2050. We'll keep you posted.
- Are you going to use drugs during labor? You betcha! A calm, non-freaked out mom makes for an easier experience for everyone involved. There's research about this. I have nothing to prove.
- How much weight have you gained? 27 pounds. True story. Quite proud of that. And I'm not positive, but I think Rob's weight has been holding steady. Thanks for asking.
- Come on, what's her name? People. Seriously. At this point, the only reason we're still holding on to this one is because it's evidently driving everyone nuts and we love doing that. It makes us laugh evilly.
- Do you like being pregnant? This is a tough one. Overall, yes, it's been an easy ride. The first couple of months were scary and the last few weeks have not been my most comfortable. I have only had a couple of real hormonal mood swings--the last one hit me in August and is still going strong. I have two pairs of shoes that fit because my ankles and feet have swollen up to an alarming size. But this is truly a miraculous process, and it's been one amazing moment after another. Do I like it? Most of the time, I do. Will I be glad when it's over? Yes. Do I think anyone who does this more than 3 or 4 times is crazy? Sure do.
